Students perceive themselves as a ‘math person’ or a ‘reading person’ early on – and this can impact the choices they make throughout their lives

Psychologists aren't sure which factors drive students to form specific academic identities, but these identities can affect career choices. Tom Werner/DigitalVision via GettyImagesThe Research Brief is a short take about interesting academic work. The big idea As kids progress through school, they tend to increasingly perceive themselves as either a “math person” or a “language person,” even if they’re good at both, according to a 2022 study I led. My colleagues and I were interested in why peo